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Advocates Hoping To Keep Pot Legalization Issue Alive In Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Proponents of legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in Connecticut are seeking to keep the issue alive even though two bills already failed in this year's legislative session.

Reps. Juan Candelaria and Toni Walker, both Democrats from New Haven, are holding a public informational meeting on the subject. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday and will include testimony from invited speakers and members of the public.

Candelaria said he thinks people deserve an opportunity to express their opinions on legalization. Bills that both he and Walker proposed this session died without a public hearing.

Chris Goldstein, editor of Freedom Leaf, a magazine about marijuana reform, said legalization makes sense in Connecticut considering what's happening in its border states.

"You know, Vermont is actually pretty far down the road to legalizing marijuana through legislative action, Massachusetts may be legalizing this year," he told WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini.

Legislative leaders have said this wasn't the year to take up such a potentially contentious issue, considering this is a short legislative session. Also, Gov. Dannel. P. Malloy has said he opposes full legalization.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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